INSURGENTES

What does Steven Wilson's 'Insurgentes' and a turkey dinner have in common?

They both put you to sleep.

Don't fool yourself; this is definately not a Porcupine Tree album under a different name. Steven Wilson has used this solo record to explore all of the facets of his music, not just the typical style that is heard in much of the Porcupine Tree material. There are a few songs a la Porcupine to entice listeners, but there is also stuff that resonates his other projects, particularly his drone project 'Bass Communion.' All of these styles are melded into something that is mellow and noisy.

The first few times I listened to this album, I literally fell asleep. Not to discredit the album, but it is very quiet for the most part, and it risks slipping into the realm of background music. Some of the stuff sounds like something that you could expect from Steven Wilson typically (the soaring 'Harmony Korine'), other material sounds almost exactly like The Mars Volta ('No Twilight In The Courts Of The Sun.')

The album's production is generally very thoughtful (as is most of Wilson's material) except a few moments where either by fault or intent, the mixing suddenly goes out of whack and certain tracks become twice as loud. The best example of this is in the 'climax' of 'No Twilight.' Hurts my ears every time.

The album doesn't work out to be one of the brightest moments in Steven Wilson's career, but it is interesting to see the man work without the parameters expected of Porcupine Tree. Highlights include the first track, 'Harmony Korine' (which has a mind blowing video courtesy of Lasse Hoile,) the title closing track, and 'Venero A Las Hadas' which at first passed me as being excessively boring and mellow, but it took me a few listens to see how aesthetically beautiful it sounds. Very dreamlike and lucid.

All fans of Porcupine Tree should at least check out the album, because it is really good. I cannot expect this sort of varied, calm music to be everyone's thing, however.

Do not expect a Porcupine Tree record with this one!

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